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Flash for 8 May 2018

Our meeting began in the usual way with President Marcy Zajdel leading in the Pledge of Allegiance, God Bless America and our invocation by Missy Smeltz.

Sergeant at Arms Report:
Mark Barnhart reported 32 of our 75 members were in attendance.
Guests: Denise Ardisson with her mother, Roberta

Announcements:

PLEASE NOTE: We will not have a regular lunch meeting on Tuesday, May 15. We will be having our Scholarship Dinner at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg at 6PM.

Club News:

Foundation Moment with Gene James: When one young Rotarian is asked what Rotary does, she simply smiles and says, “We save lives.” Saving lives and giving hope and confidence for the future is what our Rotary Foundation does for families all over the world. Whether it is giving drops to vaccinate children, providing clean water, teaching children basic literacy skills or helping people start small businesses through micro credits, the work that the Rotary Foundation does impacts the lives of people everywhere.

Marcy’s Quote of the Week: “Life to me is a journey – you never know what may be your next destination.”

The Rotary’s Service Above Self 5K will be held on Memorial Day, May 28, 2018 at Lynch Field in Greensburg. The website, Facebook and the online registration are up and running. We are in need of sponsors for this event. Please contact Al Lazar at taxmanal@comcast.net or Marcy Zajdel mlzajdel@comcast.net

The Golf Committee has decided that the 2018 Rotary Club Scholarship Golf Outing will be held on Monday, June 18, 2018 at the Greensburg Country Club. The committee is currently looking for sponsors, prizes, and foursomes. Please contact Mandy Zalich or a committee member.

The Annual Spelling Bee will be held on Thursday, May 24 at 6PM at the Greensburg Salem Middle School. We hope you will come out to support these young spellers.

Speaker:
Gene James introduced today’s speakers, Tonia Richardson and Becky Kostley from the Stoneybrook Foundation. The mission of the Stoneybrook Foundation is to improve the lives of children and adults with special challenges through a therapeutic partnership with horses. The Stoneybrook Foundation was founded in 2008 by John and Deborah McCain in Acme, Pennsylvania. Originally, the Stoneybrook Foundation was volunteer run, with 3 horses serving about 20 students. Today, the center employs 10 staff, owns 6 horses, free leases another 8 horses and provides nearly 1,5000 therapeutic riding lessons annually. The center’s therapeutic riding services encompass therapy, education, sport and recreation/leisure.

At the Stoneybrook Foundation, they are able to work with individuals living with a wide range of disabilities. These disabilities include, but are not limited to, wounded veterans, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, spina bifida, pervasive developmental delay, autism, non-verbal disorders, visual and hearing impairment, developmental and learning disabilities, previously abused individuals and at-risk youth. Two of our four teaching staff are certified PATH, Intl. registered therapeutic riding instructors and two are PATH instructors-in-training. This certification ensures that our students are receiving the highest quality, state of the art instruction available.

Many of the successes the students experience in their riding and horsemanship activities directly impact other areas of their lives. Because of the rhythmical, repeatable, three-dimensional, and symmetrical movement of the horse, the riders’ physical needs in flexibility, balance and muscle strength are addressed. Additionally, for individuals with emotional challenges, the unique relationship formed while working with their non-judgmental horse partner can lead to increased confidence, patience and improved self-esteem. mission is to improve the lives of children and adults with special challenges through a therapeutic partnership with horses.